Dwarves are an ancient race to the lands, having lived long ago in settlement well concealed in the mountains. As they developed, so too did their technology. The discovered how to delve into the earth and recover the materials there, and soon began to quickly learn to use the resources and minerals of the mountains long before any other race had conceived the notion of forging metals. As the dwarves mined deeper and deeper into the earth they began to construct their abodes in the mines for immediate access to the rich minerals. Gradually they began to adapt to their underground residence, developing outstanding vision in the dark shrinking in stature to maneuver better in close quarter, and becoming inevitably more like the rocks and stones they cherished in durability and strength.
For so long they stayed in the ground that they went unknown to all sentient races, save the humans, who, not understanding the ways of the forge, bartered with the dwarves for armor and weapons. Nothing remains hidden for long in the world before someone or something seeks it, and so it was with the dwarves. They were not alone in the earth, for it had many others who found residence as well. During the construction of a new mine shaft, a miner broke through the wall into what appeared to be another tunnel. The other miners were fast to widen the opening so that they might see what great wonders lay inside. Little did they know that they had just broken the ancient seal on a race that had been banished from the earth. From that opening goblins, trolls, and orcs poured forth, as an unstoppable tide of malice and destruction. The mines where quickly filled, as the wave swept through killing and devouring once again. By the time all was finished the remaining dwarves had been forces to the surface, able only to close a few of the tunnels.
A great leader among dwarves arose then, his name Redmerd Rockrender. He alone united the last of the dwarves, and led them beyond the mountains far south into the world, until again they found suitable refuge. It took very little time to reconstruct what they had once had, as not race can carve stone as fast or well as the dwarves, and not being is half as skilled in architecture and construction. They could not again live in secrecy, however, for their mark on the world had now been well known, and the evil they had release runs rampant to this day.
Dwarves are a neutral race, isolated and content to live in their mines, many dwarves, however, choose to live above ground, mingling with the other races, and aiding in their causes. Dwarves are not all benevolent, many hail from rouge bands or from more diabolic clans and may be the greatest of allies or the worsts of enemies. |
